Prodrive Sack FPV Management Team - Ford Australia 'Shocked'

[JoeT]

FPV Scalped - Management Sacked In Surprise Move

Joe Kenwright
22 January 2007
www.carpoint.com.au

Ford Performance Vehicles was 'decapitated' by owner Prodrive last week in a move that even caught Ford Australia on the hop.

In a shock move Ford Performance Vehicles was decapitated last Friday. The move -- in which much of the FPV senior management team was dismissed -- was announced in a short statement issued by minority partner, Ford Australia.

FPV is a joint-venture between Ford Australia and UK-based automotive and race engineering specialist, Prodrive. The latter holds 51 per cent of FPV and operates what is effectively Ford's local hero car arm.

The retrenchments included recently-appointed managing director Sak Ryopponen and senior marketing, product planning, customer and media relations personnel.

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FPV Accelerates Despite Retrenchments

Bruce Newton
24 January 2007
www.smh.com.au

Ford and partner Prodrive have committed to the future of the Ford Performance Vehicles joint venture despite last week's sudden retrenchment of virtually all the company's top management.

Managing director Sak Ryopponen (left), plus eight senior marketing, finance and product support staff were given their marching orders in what appears to be a massive cost-cutting exercise. Mr Ryopponen had been MD for seven months.

The retrenchments came just days after FPV announced a record 2144 sales in 2006. Created in 2002 as a direct competitor for the successful Holden Special Vehicles operation, FPV modifies and markets Falcon V8 and turbocharged six-cylinder sedans and utilities

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Ford Performance Vehicles Website

[JoeT]

I'm sure HSV and Holden are laughing too. It's seems a strange move considering they proformed well in '06.

[jbernie]

Not sure I get this. But more power to prodrive. I'm sure the Holden side will be laughing if they do worse with the new setup. No doubt those who got fired would kinda hope for them to screw it up big time too.

Not sure how doing this will make prodrive any closer, something smells, but not sure what.

[kgratton]

Was this the same management team that accused 'Motor' of stuffing up clutches in the F6? If so, that would do it.

[DanCBJMS1988]

That sounds a little scary.

[redTT]

I'm sure HSV and Holden are laughing too. It's seems a strange move considering they proformed well in '06.

Yeah a strange move on the part of prodrive.

Record sales for 06 and looks to be continuing to 07................and the team gets the sack?

[kgratton]

I heard that Sak was also let go by Carsales some years ago. Costs were allegedly out of control and it was struggling at the time.

[vt6banger]

"FPV is restructuring its business in order to continue developing world-class performance vehicles

Worldclass? where are they sending these vehicles to make them worldclass? dont the world have to at least see them? or is this like baseball world series?

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by vt6banger

Worldclass? where are they sending these vehicles to make them worldclass? dont the world have to at least see them? or is this like baseball world series?

No - they use the US definition of "world" in their PR releases.

Mike

[Maetrix66]

Damn guys, are you just upset that your toilet bowls
swirl the wrong way??

[HEVguy]

That is too bad, but I guess Ford is going through hard times?!

[asylum]

probably something to do with selling about 6 variants of the same car and being out-sold by HSV that only produce 3!

there is rumours that Prodrive want to start taking FPV's to the UK, so they might be taking a more dominant role.

so far, i think the only place Ford export is to New Zealand (kinda like saying we export to Tasmania) but with the next model, LHD will be a possibility

[redTT]

Worldclass? where are they sending these vehicles to make them worldclass? dont the world have to at least see them? or is this like baseball world series?

World class NO but they do have one of the best if not the best 6cyl engine in their turbo cars, not to mention an excellent (again one of the best) transmission in their 6cyl and 8cyl cars.

[vt6banger]

the xr6 turbo engine is good, but trouble with turbos doesnt it? best 6cyl engine compared to who? Holden yeah thats a given but rest of the world, not likely.
it would be interesting to see if Holden/gm came out with the twin turbo v6 from the torana concept. that would have an impact on sales, in Oz turbo cars become cult very quickly ie XR6 turbo, not to mention vl turbo geez even the sigma turbo was popular in its day and was used by the cops.

[JoeT]

FPV Accelerates Despite Retrenchments

Bruce Newton
24 January 2007
www.smh.com.au

Ford and partner Prodrive have committed to the future of the Ford Performance Vehicles joint venture despite last week's sudden retrenchment of virtually all the company's top management.

Managing director Sak Ryopponen (left), plus eight senior marketing, finance and product support staff were given their marching orders in what appears to be a massive cost-cutting exercise. Mr Ryopponen had been MD for seven months.

The retrenchments came just days after FPV announced a record 2144 sales in 2006. Created in 2002 as a direct competitor for the successful Holden Special Vehicles operation, FPV modifies and markets Falcon V8 and turbocharged six-cylinder sedans and utilities

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